Crisis response

Displaced Iraqi families arrive near a checkpoint east of Mosul as they flea areas of unrest.

In brief

We may not know when a crisis will occur, but when it does, Amnesty International’s crisis team is ready. Whether it’s the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria or imminent executions in the Asia Pacific, we are ready to help individuals at serious risk of human rights abuses.

Crisis Response in depth

As situations escalate, we gather the evidence and ensure our supporters and the wider community are informed and ready to act. Here are our priority campaigns for 2017.

Trump Travel Ban

Our global movement has been mobilising in solidarity to stand up against discrimination. The new attempt by President Trump and his administration to reinstate a new travel ban that discriminatse against nationals, including refugees, from six Muslim-majority countries is callous, cruel and is a threat to human rights.

The revised Executive Order (EO) was the same hate and fear in different packaging, designed to demonise vulnerable people and no amount of editing can make it anything but what it is – blatant discrimination.

This is illegal under international human rights law and the lasting damage that this will have is severe. It is also really important to note that the other part of the Executive Order is that is more than halves America’s refugee resettlement commitments. That is 60,000 people who will no longer have the prospect of seeking safety in the US. People who are fleeing persecution, war zones and torture. Now will not have the opportunity to settle safely in the US.

The Syrian crisis

Imagine living every day of your life in absolute fear, not knowing whether you or your family will live to see another sunrise. That’s the reality of life for millions of ordinary people living in Syria.

As Syria’s civil war rages into its seventh year, Amnesty International works tirelessly to help those struggling to survive and those forced to flee their home.

While the enormity of the Syrian conflict can often feel overwhelming, our crisis team – with your support – can make a lasting difference. Our researchers are on the ground in Syria, exposing the horror of everyday life and giving a voice to those affected, and our campaigners and supporters are calling on governments to protect civilians caught in the conflict.

Fighting between the Syrian Government and rebels has so far killed over 300,000 people and created more than 5 million refugees. We will continue to call on the Australian Government and its allies to ensure that civilians are not targeted during the conflict and that those fleeing the horrors are resettled as quickly as possible. Find out more about our Safety for Syrians campaign.

“Syria can feel overwhelming because of the enormity of the conflict. However, when Amnesty International’s researchers tell us another human rights activist in the country has been disappeared, when a doctor calls to tell us another hospital has been targeted in an airstrike, my team does not have the option to be overwhelmed.”

– Tirana Hassan, Crisis Response Director

The Philippines

Acting on instructions from the very top of government, the Philippines police have killed and paid others to kill thousands of alleged drug offenders in a wave of extrajudicial executions that may amount to crimes against humanity.

Extrajudicial executions are unlawful and deliberate killings carried out by officials, by order of a government or with its complicity or acquiescence. Extrajudicial executions violate the right to life as enshrined in both Philippine and international law.

What we’re asking

We want a world where human rights are no longer under fire. Governments and people in power everywhere must respect everyone’s basic freedoms, and allow their citizens to live safely, without fear. When human rights are attacked, Amnesty will call on the human rights abusers to be tried and brought to justice.

Instead of this discrimination and hateful politics what we need to see is courage and compassion – we’ll calling for the Executive Order to be blocked permanently and repealed once and for all.

The Syrian crisis

The Syrian conflict is one of the most heartbreaking human crises of our time. Amnesty wants to ensure a safe home for all of those caught in its clutches. We are calling on the Australian Government to offer safety to more people fleeing devastation by increasing our annual refugee intake to a minimum of 30,000 people, and for an independent Mechanism to assist in the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the most serious crimes under international law committed in Syria.

The Philippines

We’re collectively calling on the President of the Philippines to end his ‘shoot-to-kill’ policy and order an independent and impartial investigation into all killings to date with the intention of bringing all those found to be guilty of extrajudicial killings to account and to end impunity.

Our Wins

Our movement changes lives. We celebrate the small wins, and the big moments because we know that every step our world takes away from injustice, is a step closer to a world in which human rights are enjoyed by all.